Unit information: Art and Identity in the Roman World in 2011/12

Unit name	Art and Identity in the Roman World
Unit code	CLAS37009
Credit points	20
Level of study	H/6
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12)
Unit director	Dr. Hales
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	None,
Co-requisites	None
School/department	Department of Classics & Ancient History
Faculty	Faculty of Arts

Description including Unit Aims

In recent years, the issue of 'identity' has become an intensely studied field of art historical and archaeological research, particularly as a means of rehabilitating provincial 'others' into studies of Roman society and culture. This unit explores how inhabitants of the Roman world used art as a tool to promote personal and civic identities and to present gender, social status and ethnicity. It explores both how Romans in Italy attempted to fashion their own image in the face of cultural influences from the Greek world and how provincials adopted or rejected new influences from their rulers as they created complex identities that fused their Roman presents and local pasts. It considers how people use art to assert their difference or participation, both by the objects they commission, and the way they view the art around them. In doing so, the course will reassess ideas of self-perception and presentation in the ancient world and reflect on how our own understanding of identity has affected the ways in which we have explored ancient identities.

The aims of this unit are:

• to develop skills in interpreting different kinds of artefacts and images in relation to

constructions of identities and in contextualising those constructions within contemporary social and political discourse

• to acquire knowledge of the theoretical debates about identity construction that have

informed the ways in which Roman remains have been interpreted

• to develop skills in reading and interpreting different kinds of texts and images
• to enable students to use the knowledge acquired in seminars and through independent

research to construct coherent, relevant and critical arguments concerning the interpretative issues raised by the representation of time in the texts studied.

• to develop student skills in oral and written communication.

Intended Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students should:

• have developed their skills in interpreting different kinds of artefacts and images in relation to constructions of identities and in contextualising those constructions within contemporary social and political discourse.
• have acquired knowledge of the theoretical debates about identity construction that have

informed the ways in which Roman remains have been interpreted.

• be able to use the knowledge acquired in seminars and through independent research

to construct coherent, relevant and critical arguments concerning the interpretative issues raised by the representation of identity in the images studied.

• have had the opportunity to develop their skills in oral and written communication, in taking part in seminar discussions, in an assessed essay and a written examination.

Teaching Information

Seminars

Assessment Information

One essay of 3,000 words (50%) and one examination of 90 minutes (50%).

Reading and References

J. Elsner, Art & the Roman Viewer (Cambridge) 1995.

S. Hales & T. Hodos, Material Culture & Social Identity in the Ancient World (Cambridge) 2008.

J. Huskinson ed. Experiencing Rome. Culture, Identity and Power in the Roman Empire, London. 2000.

D. Mattingley, Dialogues in Roman Imperialism: JRA Supp. 23 (Portsmouth, RI) 1997.

J. Webster & N. Cooper, Roman Imperialism: Post Colonial Perspectives (Leicester) 1996.